Sunday, December 2, 2012

12 Days of Donating: Day 3

On Day 3 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In March, the big talk around Franklin was the vote on the new high school. Many voices of Franklin were heard and generally in a civil discourse around the pros and cons of a new high school. The vote was held on March 27 and with 9971 voters turning out, it rang up with 7988 for and 1982 against.



An architectural rendering view of the new science labs

The full set of posts around the high school building project can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

This collection will continue to be updated as construction on the building makes progress towards the opening in the fall of 2014.

So what does the new high school have to do with 12 Days of Donating? 
I think it shows that Franklin can come together, have a good discussion and take action. These qualities are what makes Franklin a place that matters! When we applies these qualities to the 12 Days of Donating, we will be helping our neighbors.

The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:
  • Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
  • Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
  • Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
  • Dean College, Campus Center
  • DCU, 500 West Central St.
  • East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
  • Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
  • Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
  • Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
  • Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
  • RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.
You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page




Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Dec 5, 2012


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 18, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Citizenship Award – Stella Jeon

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council - Caterina Colson
2013-2014 Election Workers


F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Change of Location and Alteration of Premises - Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits
2013 Annual Alcoholic Beverages Licenses Renewals

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-82: Legal Notices
2. Resolution 12-83: 2013 Schedule of Town Council Meetings
3. Resolution 12-84: Southern New England Trunkline Trail Multi-Community Joint Planning Resolution

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

The full set of documents for this meeting can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/120512.pdf

Power 88 Rock Radio Station in Franklin Providing Dean College Students Practical Experience Behind the Microphone


Power 88 Rock Radio Station in Franklin Providing Dean College
Students Practical Experience Behind the Microphone

Franklin, MA – In the world of Higher Education, it is widely agreed that the more hands-on, out-of-classroom experience a student can gain, the better prepared they are to reach their career goals after college.  Luckily for students in Dean College's communications program, Dean College operates a 175 watt; Arbitron rated radio station serving a twenty mile radius.


Power 88 Radio Station has a state-of-the-art studio broadcasting from Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. With some of the most advanced equipment in the industry, along with the equipment and capability to broadcast remotely, students of Dean are very involved in maintaining the quality and success of the professionally run radio station. Very recently, Power 88 achieved a 0.1 arbitron rating, meaning the station had at least 24,000 listeners at a given time.

Students of Dean are presented a unique opportunity as on-air talent, program directors, producers, and interactive media coordinators at Power 88. Their role within the radio station is guided by professionals with many years of radio experience, and students' duties fall in line with their future career goals.

Edward Leeseberg is a junior in the Communications program at Dean College, though being from Franklin, he is no stranger to Power 88.

"In an ideal world, my dream job would be to be starting as on-air talent and hopefully moving up the ladder at a radio station similar to WZLX or WAAF in the Boston radio market," said Leeseberg.

Understanding student needs to achieve their career goals in the ever-changing media world, Communications Arts program Coordinator Tom Shaker and Power 88 General Manager Vic Michaels encourage student involvement, and in some cases, build it into Dean classes and curriculums.

Power 88 carries 175 watts behind it, meaning it can be heard from as far away as twenty miles from Franklin, Massachusetts, as well as around the world via internet streaming.  Click here to stream power 88 on your computer. Click here to visit Power 88 on Facebook.

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About Power 88:
Power 88.3FM is a rock radio station broadcasting from Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. The station has 175 watts behind it and has a radius of approx. twenty miles surrounding Franklin. Power 88 is professionally run and student staffed featuring a wide-range rock format. Power 88 is 100% commercial free.



A fish story of a different sort in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Julia Spitz/Daily News staff on 12/1/12

Fish Tank No. 1
"Bo is a famous fish,'' said his owner, Judy Weinberg. "He won the whole circuit'' in 2009, including the Northeast Council of Aquarium Societies' William T. Innes Award for accumulating the most points in member societies' shows.

Things you can do from here:

Saturday, December 1, 2012

12 Days of Donating: Day 2

On Day 2 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In February, while the big news was that the Town Council set the date for the debt exclusion vote for the new Franklin High School, that seemed to overshadow the Library being decertified by the MA Board of Library Governors.  We will spend more time on the new high school in March but for now recall the issue of the Library decertification.

Franklin: Where am I? #12


First word came from outside
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/franklin-public-library-decertified.html

The "Municipal Appropriate Requirement" became a new term to understand
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/municipal-appropriation-requirement-mar.html

The MDN gets into the issue
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/urge-restoration-of-funding-to-franklin.html

Digging back into the Budget cycle for FY 2012 didn't reveal much discussion about the cuts that were made
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

The Library was recertified early in April. 
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

During the decertification period, the Library was open to all but the lending of books were only available to Franklin residents. Franklin residents were also prevented from obtaining materials from the interlibrary loan program. Franklin has applied for a new waiver from the MAR requirements for FY 2013 and we won;t find out until later if that will be approved.

So how does this related to the 12 Days of Donating? Money, it all takes money. From the Franklin budget to our personal budget to feed and fund our family life, money is a key resource. The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

  • Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
  • Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
  • Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
  • Dean College, Campus Center
  • DCU, 500 West Central St.
  • East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
  • Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
  • Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
  • Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
  • Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
  • RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.
You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page



"a cause to rally around"

The Franklin Food Elves are back for another round of "12 Days of Donating". The Milford Daily News reports on their efforts for the Franklin Food Pantry:
"It’s not the stereotypical family coming in here," Sottile said. "It’s the neighbors; it’s the people who are working. You could have both parents working and still not make enough money to provide." 
Erin Lynch, the food pantry’s developmental director, said Friday the drive brings in the whole town. 
"We love to see the community come together on this," Lynch said. "You can always accomplish more together. This event shows that when you work as a team, you can maximize your resources for the greatest results." 
She added, "When you look at the ways something like this benefits the community, it’s not just the recipients here at the food pantry: It’s any organization that needs help. When you have kids learn they can make a difference, it benefits everybody."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719500551/Franklin-food-elves-back-for-another-year-of-giving#ixzz2DnulQDdm

More about the Food Elves and the Franklin Downtown Partnership
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/11/food-drive-kicks-off-thursday.html

Disclosure: I am honored to lead the Board of the Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry and thoroughly approve of the efforts of the Franklin Food Elves. Franklin does matter!

You made the Holiday Stroll a great success!

from Lisa Piana Executive Director of the Franklin Downtown Partnership:


Thank you to everyone who participated in the Holiday Stroll last night..
Hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the sights and sounds of the 4th Annual Holiday Stroll in downtown Franklin yesterday. Visitors were treated to hot chocolate, carols, handbells, arts and crafts, wreaths, a visit from Santa, stories from Mrs. Claus, lighted trees, gingerbread cookies, holiday music and much more!

The Stroll was made possible by our generous sponsors and the tireless efforts of co-chairs Cindy Kozil and Roberta Trahan and a large number of volunteer elves.

Many thanks to our Gold Sponsors Dean Bank and DCU
Silver Sponsors D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Local Town Pages Franklin and Middlesex Savings Bank and Bronze Sponsors Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and Simon's Furniture

We also thank the Franklin Police Department who skillfully kept traffic moving and Strollers safe. And to DPW who made the downtown look so good.